Kara Kuhn-Riordon, M.D.
Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor
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Locations and Contact
UC Davis Children's Hospital
UC Davis Children's Hospital
2315 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Additional Numbers
Physician Referrals
Clinical Interests
Dr. Riordon is a neonatologist with interest in improving the care of critically ill neonates using technology. She is interested in improving the delivery of maternal breast milk to infants and improving breast milk nutrition utilizing human milk analysis and targeted fortification. Dr. Riordon is also interested in the use of neonatal point of care ultrasound (POCUS) and is active in teaching fellows, nurse practitioners, and faculty how to utilize this powerful tool. Additionally, Dr. Riordon is interested in improving the care of opioid exposed neonates, especially those who go on to develop neonatal abstinence syndrome. Dr. Riordon is a strong advocate for working together with families to provide the best care for their baby.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Riordon is a neonatologist with interest in improving the care of critically ill neonates using technology. Her ongoing projects are as follows:
- Human milk analysis and targeted fortification in the NICU - Clinical Project with QI focus
- Optimizing Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes In Drug (OPIOID) Addiction ECHO Clinic – improving care of pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their opioid exposed neonates in rural Northern CA communities.
- Cohort Study of Premature Infants – Study aimed at creating a biorepository of samples from premature infants including stool, urine, breast milk, and serum to look at microbiota, metabolomics, and milk analysis to better understand difference in growth, CLD, among other conditions.
- Ongoing development and improvement of neonatal Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Curriculum.
- Co-Director of the Neonatal Fellow Quality Improvement projects
Division
Fetal Care and Treatment Center
Neonatology
Center/Program Affiliation
Undergraduate School
B.S., UC Davis, Davis CA 2006
Medical School
M.D., St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis MO 2011
Internship
Pediatrics, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento CA 2011-2012
Residency
Pediatrics, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento CA 2012-2014
Fellowship
Neonatal-Perinatal, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento CA 2014-2017
CMN Clinical Services Grant - Transforming Patient Centered Care for High Acuity Low Occurrence (HALO) Events Through High Fidelity Neonatal and Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasound Simulation., 2022
HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - NAS. Optimizing Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes In Substance Use Disorder (OPIOID) & Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) project, 2020
HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Planning Grant. Optimizing Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes In Drug (OPIOID) Addiction, 2019
CMN Clinical Services Grant - “Enhancing Growth in Preterm Infants with Breast Milk Analysis and Targeted Fortification, 2019
Enhancing and Transforming Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with Point of Ultrasound Grant awarded by the Children's Miracle Network, 2015
WAFMR/WAP Outstanding Resident Award Winner, 2014
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society Member, 2010
Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society Member (Gamma Delta Chapter), 2006
To see a full list of publications for Dr. Kara Kuhn-riordon, please click here.
Cheema R, Partridge E, Kair LR, Kuhn-Riordon KM, Silva AI, Bettinelli ME, Chantry CJ, Underwood MA, Lakshminrusimha S, Blumberg D. Protecting Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Perinatol. 2023 Feb;40(3):260-266. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1714277. Epub 2020 Jul 21. PMID: 32693415; PMCID: PMC7872205.
Larke JA, Kuhn-Riordon K, Taft DH, Sohn K, Iqbal S, Underwood MA, Mills DA, Slupsky CM. Preterm Infant Fecal Microbiota and Metabolite Profiles Are Modulated in a Probiotic Specific Manner. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022 Oct 1;75(4):535-542. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003570. Epub 2022 Jul 25. PMID: 35881967; PMCID: PMC9489674.
Richard A. Polin & Steven H. Abman & David Rowitch & William E. Benitz, Kuhn-Riordon, et. al. Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 6th Edition; Elsevier. (Book Chapter) 2022.
Hoyt-Austin AE, Miller IT, Kuhn-Riordon KM, Rosenthal JL, Chantry CJ, Marcin JP, Hoffman KR, Kair LR. Bonding, Relaxation, Separation, and Connection: Expressing Human Milk While Videoconferencing with the Hospitalized Premature Infant. Breastfeed Med. 2022 Aug;17(8):653-659. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2021.0214. Epub 2022 May 23. PMID: 35605051; PMCID: PMC9464082.
Haynes SC, Dharmar M, Hill BC, Hoffman KR, Donahue LT, Kuhn-Riordon KM, Rottkamp CA, Vali P, Tancredi DJ, Romano PS, Steinhorn R, Marcin JP. The Impact of Telemedicine on Transfer Rates of Newborns at Rural Community Hospitals. Acad Pediatr. 2020 Jul;20(5):636-641. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2020.02.013. Epub 2020 Feb 17. PMID:32081766.
McGahan J, Schnick M, Mills L, Kuhn-Riordon K, et al. Fundamentals of Emergency Ultrasound, Elsevier. (Book Chapter) 2017.
Kuhn-Riordon K, Wiedeman J, Nguyen H, Natale J, Tancredi D. Reduction of Clostridium Difficile Infection Using Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Children’s Hospital within a Hospital. J Investigative Med. 2014 Jan;62(1).